Compare towns
Hanover vs Brattleboro vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($843k median).
Brattleboro has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Hanover | Brattleboro | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,479Lowest |
12,122 |
15,080Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 21.8±0.3 44% below U.S. |
45.6±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 49.8%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Durham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,281±$26kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S. |
$257,300±$18kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
$1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,700Lowest 83% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
19 minHighest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #1 of 120 in NH | #33 of 70 in VT | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | — | Brattleboro Union High School | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0Lowest |
12.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.